AMTRAK is flying us on a trip, and Mason is driving on his first ever Road Trip!

Wow, what a crazy last few weeks it has been!

First I want to send out a HUGE HUG to Amtrak for going beyond the call of duty and making it so I can fly out to see Sarah since I could not take a train trip anywhere because of my disability!

When I entered the "Journey to the Center of the Earth Contest", I was not this disabled. I don't enter contests I know I cannot use or take. That would be a waste of time! But, when I tried to tell them I could not accept because of my recent disability and the rules stating I cannot upgrade so that I could handle the long rides, have a place to stay for the day long layovers or ability to sit on long bus rides they would not take "No, I can't do it!" for an answer.

Lena was insistent that I won and that I was going to take a trip to be able to see my daughter like I had planned but had thought I would have to give up. So, Lena worked her magic and got a hold of Debbie and they gave Greg and I round trip tickets and a car rental to be able to fly to Ohio to see Sarah and Michael!

So, thank you Debbie and a SUPER HUG and thank you to Lena!! Sarah an Michael are ecstatic and cannot wait for us to come so I can finally meet Michaels side of the family and see their home.

Sarah and I are already planning on doing a LOT of swimming, going to auctions, touring Amish country and crafts. Then we are hoping that while we are there the trees will be turning into their fall colors. It has been so long since I have seen the fall colors on the East side of the country. It is also right at the time of Sarah and Michaels birthdays, WOOOHOOO, time for some fun. I bet we will have lots of Michaels family there for a reunion. I am smellin' the BBQ, it had better not be too cold!

And yes, you read it right! Mason is taking one of our cars and going on a road trip down the 1-5 corridor from here to AZ! He tried to tell me he can drive straight through for 24 hours without rest to get there.....Uh, NOT! If you are thinking like me which is "There is no way in this lifetime you will EVER drive that long" then be sure to comment so I can show him how much of a very, VERY bad idea this is. Papa tried to do it once coming back from Colorado. Let's just say, he was lucky he was not hurt, did not freeze to death and that the car was not too damaged to drive the rest of the way.

Sarah told me about this website called "Couch Surfers" and I will have to look it up before we try to reserve hotels for him. (I want him to stop at LEAST twice) But, Sarah says that people are put in touch with other people that need a couch for the night while they are traveling.

You know me, being a mom and of the era of never going with strangers. They can make it look good an then who knows, they might sell him off somewhere for hard labor, or kidnap him..ahhh!

I really gotta look closely into this. Any of you know about it? Any body living on the I-5 corridor? I think I would trust my bloggers before a "Couch Surfer" website!

Of course we are getting the car ready, and yes of course it is ending up costing us more then what is was suppose to. Gosh, taking your car in for a simple tune-up, new brakes or tires ALWAYS results in something else being wrong that costs a fortune. I remember my van a few years back, the engine light kept coming on, seemed like it cost us 3 grand each time we would take it in, then, then after they seemed to have fixed everything, it needed a new engine!! All in about a 6 month period! So, by the time we were done paying for everything, about 9k later, we could have bough another car!

At least the 4Runner is not in as sorry shape, but, still those unexpected costs when we want to save our money for the trips and those unexpected costs that pop up for college, it makes you dig in and do what we need to save and make more together. So, not only am I entering contests, having a garage sale, selling things on Craigs list hopefully on my blog by next month, we are looking for some "Couches."

I was also thinking that since he is taking the double bed with him and it will be tied on the top of the car. he could just camp out under the stars on top of the car with one of those pop up tents, at the rest stops! Or he can just sleep under the stars and hope the bugs don't get him.

He is going to be able to stuff the car full of his things which kinda has me feeling blue. I have just recently got those feelings of him not living here anymore. Especially when he said he can't stay very long when he comes. He has to get back because of starting training for Cross Country, having to move again into his permanent apt since he has been "couch surfing" with friends the last couple of months. He has grown up so much, not physically, but, mentally this past year since he has been gone. He is no longer the baby. He has learned a lot, some the hard way, some in a good way. But, he knows what it is to be an adult and how we cannot come rushing in to make everything better like we use to do or when we want to or HE wants us to. I am waiting for that phone call when he starts getting his utility bills in the mail and he calls me up like Sarah did and says "MOM! I don't LIKE being an adult anymore, I don't like getting all these bills, and they won't stop coming!" LOL!

It is terrifying, because we spend our whole life trying to protect them from the real, unfair world and now he is out there and it is slapping him in the face and there is nothing I can do. I only know that he hs the strength to handle it. He has done well and I know next year is going to go a lot smoother for him. He really grew up into a very mature adult, and learned from some really tough times on how to get through it and come out shining.

Oh, and it looks like Mason might be going to the US Championships the end of June. He is still only at about 80% healthy he says. But, hopefully he will recover even more by then. I am dying to go, but, we can't even if it is in Eugene. With the car costing us more, and who knows what will come up after this, we can't risk spending money. We are hoping he makes it past the prelims so that he is on TV so we can watch and record him racing. So please pray that he heals fast and gets back into shape so he can show everyone he is still the great runner he has always been!

OK, I had all these pictures taken so I thought I would at least share them. They are of Mason and others from AZ when they were at PAC-10 Championships. I did get a shot of Andrew Wheating who was the Champion by a lean in the 800m. He made the Olympic try outs. (One of these days, Mason will beat him, I know it) I also got some pictures of Garrett when they played the Championship game and lost to Squalicum. Garret is graduating this year, so I hope to hear about all the great things he is going to be reaching for. Now is the most important time to get those goals set and to start woring for them. He will, if he wants too. So, enjoy the pictures.

Nectaly Barbosa running the 800m

Mason and John Klien running the 800m This is the first lap for Mason and he is already out of energy. He WILL be back!

Andrew Wheating running the 800m

Garret playing Squalicum HS

Keep up the hard work!

Sehome tops Blaine!

GO, GO, DOROUGH!

Bellingham Herald Article!

They did it again! Go Sehome! What a pool of talent Sehome has!

It only makes me more proud to know that my son attended that wonderful school and helped to make him the man he is today!

Whatever they are doing, I hope they keep it up!

I am so proud art of the team, and Garrett! I am glad to see that he is having a wonderful time since he made the decision in switching to soccer and seems to be having a lot of fun playing! I hope you keep it up!

They have a lot of wonderful players on the team. Including Nino Tursic. It looks like he was able to score three goals against Blaine! Dewees and Klien scored a couple each also!

Way to go all of you!

Now go do it again!

Sehome handed Lynden Christian a 7-1 Northwest Conference loss

GO SEHOME!!!

From the Bellingham Herald Article,

Nino Tursic scored a hat trick and Sehome handed Lynden Christian a 7-1 Northwest Conference loss on Monday, March 30, at Bender Fields.
Sehome started quickly, with goals from Max Dewees, Tursic and Mike Klein, who scored twice, to take a 4-0 lead into half.
"They're incredibly explosive," Lynden Christian coach Brent DeRuyter said in a phone interview. "They really got it going in the first half when we just didn't communicate in the back."

The Lyncs' Alex Hansen collected eight saves on 19 Sehome shots. Kevin Lee scored for Lynden Christian in the 64th minute.
Garrett Dorough had a goal and assist for the Mariners.

Ah, Garrett, my Fav...

Go, Go Dorough!!!

Go, Go Garrett Dorough!!

After talking incessantly about my son Mason, this is a nice break to talk about another Whatcom County athlete that is a close friend of the family.

Garrett is a kick in the pants and like Mason, tends to keep his parents on the edge with his antics and changing directions, at the last moment!

Though I know Garrett has played soccer quite a bit in the past, he was running track the last couple years. He was on Mason’s team with Sehome. I should have asked his Mom, Lori, when he decided to run track. I am sure when he told her he was going to switch, it threw her for a curve. Just like it threw us for a curve when Mason, after playing baseball since he started T-Ball in the first grade, decided to switch to running track in his Jr. Year of High School.

Granted, Mason was running cross-country, but, baseball was his whole life…and Papa’s! Mason had his hand in a lot of things, and did very well. But, baseball was the priority, every year! He even went to pitching and hitting camps, batting cages, etc.
He was one of 2 sophomores in high school to play on the AAA, Post 7 Senior legion team that went on to play in the senior legion National World Series the following summer, which he passed up the chance to be a part of BECAUSE he switched to track!

So, when Lori told us about Garrett choosing Soccer this year, his senior year, I could only remember the shock, disbelief and worry about Mason changing his mind at the last moment, “What are you thinking!” quitting a sport you love and do well at to switch to a sport you have never participated in?

I remember his answer and always will. “I am not quitting to loose.” He told us confidently.

OK. Though my parents were very strict about us starting a sport or activity and quitting, I did not want my kids to loose out of the ability to go with their heart and choose what path they wanted to take. Sometimes, we may think we will enjoy it, then after getting involved, we decide it is not for us. So, we should have the option to change to find our true path. We also have to live with those consequences of changing and hope that it helps you in determining what your true calling is.

I am so glad that Garrett decided to go after what he wanted to do. It matters not that they become the next phenom at what they choose to do. It matters that they are doing what they enjoy most and that it brings them the most thrill, passion and satisfaction in their lives. It does not matter if it is a sport, or other activity such as music, science club, chess, etc. Just as long as it is what THEY want to do, or pursue. It might not be the first few activities they choose at first, since they will find their way eventually. It takes a lot of patience. For the parents, it is a continual learning process, and with enough patience, tolerance and support, the kids will find their way and be much better, well rounded and confident in their decisions.

Even if it means your child quitting after giving one activity a try, so they can try another. Like the time Mason tried Football in Middle School. It can get expensive and it can also be a pain changing your schedule to meet their needs of transportation, buying new equipment, etc. But, this is the only way, we as parents, are able to foster our kids needs to find their path and be able to envision their future goals.

I would rather go through these kinds of inconveniences, then not let them have the chance to be find an of activity or sport that brings them a passion in their lives to keep them focused, educated and healthy in mind and spirit. (I know that Papa had a real hard time with Mason decision since he was SO OBSESSED with Mason and baseball, but, he did good in letting loose and knowing it was not all about Papa) It is much better then us worrying about them sitting around playing video games or watching TV for hours upon hours a day, loitering at the mall, or getting involved in non-productive activities where they become lost from knowing what their talents and future goals are and discovering what talents they might have..

So, I hope all you kids know….we parents go through so much when you make ANY decision! Does not matter what it is, is will throw us for a loop because we are only concerned that you are doing what you need to do to stay on the path you chose, stay focused and accomplish your long range goals.

I am sure Garrett made this decision wisely, since his Mom told me that he has always enjoyed playing soccer. Garrett, to me, and you can tell by the photos I posted, is a real character!

Taking pictures and watching him play soccer for the first time, I could see how much he enjoys it! Very passionate, but, might want to hold back a little bit of those emotions that can go against you! Believe me, we know how hard it is to reign in those frustrations when the adrenaline gets going, especially when a player takes too long to tie his shoes!

Garrett’s School, Sehome High School and team, the Mariners, are now 2-1 after playing his first three non-conference games! GO, GO GARRETT DOROUGH! And SEHOME!

Last year Sehome beat Cheney, 2-1 for the 2A State Soccer Title! Garrett was on both 2A State Track and Field title teams the last couple of years. I got a great photo of him below when he was running the Steeplechase at the Birger Solberg Invitational, where he came in 1st place!

So, we are going to be keeping an eye on him for the season. We are not able to attend our own son’s meets, so we have decided to stalk Garrett for his senior year. I got permission from his mom, don’t worry!

We will keep a watch out and try to attend your home games, as long as the weather is good! So, be on your best behavior, because you never know if we get it on video! LOL! So, GO SEHOME and

GO, GO, Garret DOROUGH